Truth Magazine

By Dan King

In the opening chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, the writer encourages these brethren to “wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 7). All of us understand this notion of “waiting.” Often we must wait in line at the check-out counter to buy groceries. We wait in line to buy tickets at the movies. We wait at the doctor’s office to be called in to our appointment (which was usually a half-hour to an hour earlier than when we are called!).

Sometimes when we wait it is not a problem of patience or understanding. The line is short, or the check-out per- son is efficient, or everyone in line has just a few things, etc. Whatever the case may be, we are not forced to wait long.

But then at other times we have to wait for a long time. Then we grow impatient, we get nervous and “antsy.” I have seen people lay the merchandise down and walk out of the store. Sometimes they even get nasty. I have also seen impatient people in the doctor’s office leave and tell the nurse at the desk that they would never be back!

Waiting takes patience. Yet, if we are busy while we wait, then the time goes by quickly and we do not notice. Some restaurants have games for the kids on the placemats; others have little game-boards right on the table. Pediatricians’ offices sometimes have a huge assortment of toys to entertain the children while they wait. Most outer offices have magazines aplenty for us to read while we wait.

Paul recognizes this idea in the text of the Christian’s wait. Idle waiting leads to impatience and frustration, and sometimes causes people to quit altogether. Here are the things that the apostle lists as important for us to do while we wait on Jesus:

1. Be enriched in utterance. In v. 5 he writes: “. . . that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge.” As children of God, we have been enriched in utterance in several ways. First, our language ought to be more pure and enriching to those around us. Christians should never use profanity or vulgarity, cursing or swearing, for it is not appropriate to our calling: “Now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth” (Col. 3:8). Second, our speech should be happy and pleasant to those about us. We are saved from our sins! We have heaven as our hope! God loves us and is caring for us! Certainly we should talk like people for whom these things are true. None of us likes to be around people who are morose and unpleasant, negative and critical, why would we think others would want to be around us if we are this way? Our speech should be a blessing to those who hear us: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).

2. Be enriched in knowledge. Paul also states that we ought to be “enriched in him, in . . . all knowledge” (v. 5). While we await the return of our Lord, we need to be grow- ing in knowledge. Peter wrote: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever” (2 Pet. 3:18). This is, in itself, a life-long enterprise which, sad to say, some of us have never yet begun. The key to our desire for growth is an appreciation of the word “enriched” used in this phrase. We are “enriched” by our gain in knowledge. We are “enriched” by our growth in spiritual wisdom. Some people are enriched by an inheritance of wealth; others are enriched by working hard and saving; still others are enriched by successful business enterprises. But we are never more enriched than when we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ! The problem is, however, that the riches of Christ are unsearchable (Eph. 3:8) to the untrained eye, and completely hidden from the fleshly man (Col. 2:2-3). Yet they are the only true riches (Matt. 6:19-20)!

3. Live blamelessly. Paul continues in v. 8: “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a tremendous challenge! To attempt to live before God blameless in Christ! Now, admittedly, we are all going to have need of God’s “confirmation” described in the first part of the verse. At times we will err and commit sin, and thus have need of the cleansing blood of the Savior to complete the work. Yet we should see it as a “race set before us” which we run “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). Or, as Paul put it elsewhere: “Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forget- ting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded . . .” (Phil. 3:12-15).

4. Live in fellowship. In v. 9 Paul further admonishes the Christians at Corinth to abide in the fellowship into which they were called. Our fellowship in Christ is both with God and with one another in the body of Christ, the church: “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).

 

The sweet fellowship of the church is a blessing which the negligent and unfaithful miss in this world. But ultimately they miss the greatest blessing of all: fellowship with God. Perhaps they never miss it because they have not truly enjoyed it. But, just consider the fellowship which you have had with your best friend in this world, and imagine for a moment that you had never known them. You would never have missed them had you never known them, it is true, but surely you can realize that you would have missed out, knowing them now as you do! So it is with fellowship with God and the church. You may never miss it if you have never had this sweet friendship, but you have certainly missed out! Every faithful child of God will continue steadfastly in fellowship: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).5. Remain united in Christ. At v. 10 the apostle presents the church with a great challenge as she “waits for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the challenge of unity within the fellowship of which he has just spoken: “Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment”. Here he makes three demands: (1) Speak the same thing; (2) No divisions; (3) Be perfected together in mind and judgment. This is no small order! Certainly it will keep us all busy as we “wait for the Lord”!

What is the foundational unit of society as designed and created by God? The answer to that question is the family. In Genesis 2 we read some of the specifics of the creation account given in chapter 1. Included in Genesis 2 is the beginning of the family with Eve being created as a suitable companion for Adam and the two of them being brought together and joined together by God. They were given the charge to “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Gen. 1:28). In this we see the formation of the basic unit of society.

It has always been true that the welfare of man on earth has risen and fallen with the recognition of the importance of that basic family unit. I say that because the emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs of every individual begin to be met in that family relationship as God designed it. It is in the home that the most important truths must be instilled. It is in the home that respect and love for God as the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler must be formulated. It is in the home that the principles of right and wrong, respect for authority, ethical standards, and personal responsibility must be taught. This truth is found in both the Old and New Testaments. Deuteronomy 6:6-7, tells us, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Ephesians 6:4 puts it so simply, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Anytime, and to the same degree, that the most important truths of life fail to be taught in the home, society as a happen in society seem to make their way into the church sooner or later. No thinking Christian can deny that the general breakdown of the family unit in our society has begun to manifest itself more frequently within the body of Christ. We are seeing more unhappy families, more unruly children with no interest in spiritual things, more abuse of different kinds, more worldliness, more divorce. We, whose responsibility it is to shine forth as lights in the world (Matt. 5:16), are in many instances allowing the world to exercise the greater influence.

What can be done? There is only one answer to the problems so many of us face in our families today. We must follow the blueprint of the architect of the family, God. He designed it. He created it. If anyone would learn how to be a better husband, provider, father, and companion, let that person turn to God’s word. All of the principles and precepts needed to function in every relationship we sustain within the family are there. Is it the desire of a woman to learn to be a godly wife, a mother, a best friend to her spouse? Then let her study God’s word and find every answer that she needs within its pages. So a son or daughter wants to be the very best son or daughter they can be, the very best person they can be? Such will not happen by following the example of the world. It will hap- pen by learning and clinging to God’s Word. David wrote in Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Too many of us today are looking in the wrong places and to the wrong sources for the answers we need to have happy families.

By Mike Willis

The writer of the 64th psalm had been driven to the throne of God for relief from slanderous words spoken against him. The psalm is instructive in showing us how slander injures another and how victims of slander are to defend themselves.

David was the victim of wicked men in Saul’s court who spoke lies against him. This is seen from the incident when David cut off a portion of Saul’s robe at Eingedi. After revealing himself to Saul, David approached Saul saying, “Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?” (1 Sam. 24:9). David was the victim of slanderers whose aim was to see David’s reputation and David himself destroyed. The lies drove David to the throne of God with his complaint (Ps. 64:1). He asked God to protect him from fear of his enemy.

David faced Goliath in battle. He fought with the bear and the lion. He was no coward. Nevertheless, he asked God to deliver him from the “fear of the enemy” (Ps. 64:1). Men who are slanderers are to be feared.

What Slanderous Words Do To Another

1. Slanderous words are weapons used to destroy another. David de- scribed these words as swords and arrows. He said that his enemies “whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not” (Ps. 64:3-4). Men who would never think of taking a gun against their enemy are willing to attack those whom they consider to be their enemy with slanderous words.

2. Slanderous words are used as snares against one’s enemies. “They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?” (Ps. 64:5). Just as hunters lay traps for animals, men plot the destruction of their enemies using carefully planted words. The intentional nature of the sin is exposed in the plotting and planning of the attack.

3. Slanderers search out one’s iniquities to use them against him. “They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep” (Ps. 64:6). Men who wish to destroy another or his influence will search out everything in one’s past to find some piece of dirt that he might use to destroy the man. Whether or not the sin has been repented of and confessed to God and man makes no difference to those who wish to sling mud to destroy another’s reputation. Any misstep into sin will serve the purpose of the slanderer. Sometimes the mere charge that one was guilty of sin is enough, without regard to whether or not the charge is true.

William S. Plumer wrote, “The ingenuity of man has been wonderfully tasked and exercised in two things, destructive weapons of war, and devising various methods of ruining men by wicked words. The list of the former is found in military writings. But the various forms of evil speaking can hardly be cataloged. Evil speakers have ar- rows, sharp, barbed, dipped in poison. They have ‘swords, flaming swords, two-edged swords, drawn swords, drawn in anger, with which they cut, and wound, and kill the good name of their neighbor.’ Sins of the tongue are commonly very cruel. When slander is secret, as it commonly is, you cannot defend yourself from its assaults. Its canons are infernal. One of them is, If a lie will do better than the truth, tell a lie. Another is, Heap on reproach; some of it will stick” (Studies in the Book of Psalms 639).

Slanderous Words Are Bitter

1. They spring from a bitter source. James spoke about such sinful speech saying, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (Jas. 3:11). The fountain that issues slander is a bitter fountain. It is full of hatred toward its brother, the kind of hatred that Jesus identified as the cause of murder. Jesus rebuked this hatred in the Sermon on the Mount saying, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt. 5:21-22).

2. They are bitter in the result they produce. Slanderous words injure the one against whom they are spoken. They cause pain and anguish to the innocent.

The Defense Against Slanderous Words

David knew how to fight the lion and the bear; he knew how to fight against Goliath; he knew how to lead the armies of Israel against the Philistines. He was a mighty warrior who won the respect of the nation of Israel. But David did not know how to fight against the slander of man.

The manner in which David dealt with man’s slanderous words was to take his complaint to the just God of heaven and lay out his petitions before him. He was convinced that the impartial God would rise up in his defense. “But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away” (Ps. 64:7-8).

About the only defense one has against slander is to trust himself to the providence of God. A godly man cannot win a mud-slinging contest because his opponent will stoop to things he will not do. Consequently, his best defense is his own righteous life and the providence of a just God.

Some Things That Are Not Slander

One is not guilty of slander when he replies to the preaching of another whom he believes to be teaching error. One is commanded to “try the spirits” to see whether or not they are from God (1 John 4:1). A public teacher should not think that his character has been slandered because another examines in a public manner what he has taught. If we ever lose our willingness to have what we have preached tested by the standard of God’s word, we will have lost one of those things God has given to protect us from apostasy.

One is not guilty of slander by making available to others the public writings of a man which writings demonstrate what he believes. Sending out a packet of photocopied articles containing the articles of a man as a means of documenting what that brother is teaching is not slander. If it is, then the one writing the articles is slandering himself!

Vicious Assaults Still Occur

Vicious verbal assaults against the character of men are still going on among men and, unfortunately by some who are preachers. We call attention to these assaults in the hope of better conduct in the future.

Brethren do speak slanderous words against each other. I recently had breakfast with a brother whom I love and respect. He and I were discussing some of the differences that have arisen over Christianity Magazine’s series of articles advocating unity in spite of serious moral and doctrinal differences, including the position that brother Hailey had preached on divorce and remarriage. I explained that I had made four efforts to meet with the editors of Christianity Magazine face to face to discuss our differences and had been turned down on each occasion. This brother replied that one of the editors had explained their unwillingness to meet. The explanation offered attacked the moral integrity of those who were asking for the meeting. Men have spread this report from one end of the country to another. I know the moral integrity of the men who have responded to this series of articles. They are not liars. They are sincere, morally upright men who conscientiously oppose what they perceive to be false doctrine. They have given a lifetime to the propagation of the gospel, raised godly families, and conducted themselves honorably before God and the brethren. To defend one’s unwillingness to meet with one’s brethren to discuss their differences by assaulting the moral character of these men is slander! I for one take offence at the charges and, like David, will commit myself to the providence of a just God to answer such false charges against my moral character.

A man is guilty of slander when he reports the conduct of a brother who stumbled into sin many years ago as a means of destroying his reputation. One report published among us charged that one man who had stumbled into sin was being used as a preacher/writer even though he had “brought no fruits of repentance.” The report failed to mention that the man repented of his sin, confessed his sin before more than one church, and has lived many years subsequently in honorable conduct. Another brother’s sin which was committed nearly 20 years earlier was mentioned in the same article, although that brother too had repented of his sin, confessed it to God and man, and lived many years of morally upright conduct. But their sins were dug up and broadcast in an effort to destroy their reputations and the reputation of those associated with them. Like the enemies of David who slandered him, slanderers today “search out iniquity” (Ps. 64:6) and for the same reason. Slander is sometimes tolerated if the slander is against the right person. Some will not tolerate the least possible offence against their friends but have no concern for how their enemies are treated. One’s friend is sinned against when his public teachings are photocopied and sent to another, but one’s enemies are not mistreated when one digs up sins long ago repented of and confessed and reports them far and wide. It just depends upon who one slanders as to whether or not it is tolerated with some! Brother Harry Pickup, Jr. says that one of the tests of a man’s character is how he treats his enemies! Slander is slander without regard to whom its victim is and godly men will always oppose those guilty of slander, backbiting, whispering, and such like conduct.